Nov 20 Foodie Files: Rhein Haus

I spent 6 years of my childhood in Germany and I LOVE German food. Rhein Haus was celebrating its 1st anniversary, so I decided to check out the festivities. Beer steins and wood-laden décor all around, I headed to one of many bars located in the restaurant. On my way to the back bar, I passed a crowded Bocce ball courts filled with patrons. How fun! At 7pm, it wasn’t too overcrowded, but a great place to meet new people and chat.

I knew going in that I was going to get a bratwurst, but I wasn’t prepared for their selection of brats and toppings! Since it was my first trip, I went traditional and ordered The Classic—a brat with sauerkraut, onions, and marinated peppers on a pretzel bun. I also had my choice of four different types of mustard to top it off with (I choose the ground mustard). The brat came with fries and I also ordered a side of German potato salad—one of my favorite types of potato salad as a non-mayo person (I know, I have a lot of food quirks to be writing about food).

The bratwurst was HUGE! I didn’t know how to tackle it so I stalled by trying my potato salad and fries first. The German potato salad was fantastic—having the right combination of vinegar, onions, and bacon with the tender red potatoes. Not being able to delay much longer, I decided to cut the brat in half (duh!). The brat and bun were great and the toppings gave the brat an added layer of flavors—sweet, tart, and spicy all at the same time. The ground mustard was a good choice in complimenting the flavors that were there without being overpowering.

Just as I was finishing my plate, German chocolate cake was brought around to the bar! Perfection! It was the perfect German chocolate cake.

Overview, Rhein Haus is a great place for beer (tons of German choices obviously) and German food. It will be my first stop for Oktoberfest next year. Plenty of TVs around if you are trying to catch a game. Another bonus is that there is plenty of room, so it caters well to large groups. I will be back for some Bocce action soon!